To check the details about the laptop and check temperatures : HWMonitor , HWinfo64. HWinfo64 is the best, but HWmonitor is bit easier to use imo.
you can also check basic details in task manager or type "dxdiag" in run, then click yes.
To test the GPU : Furmark for 10 mins. If temps are in ok range, then it's fine. (ok range is subjective, but i think anything under 85 is acceptable, 75 to 80 is good, under 75 is great). Laptops are not known for thermals, especially used.
Unigine Heaven benchmark is also another good tool for stress testing gpu, it is a benchmark tool.
To test the CPU : I use Cinebench R23 Multicore test for 10 mins. But this is not a proper cpu stress test, more like a benchmark. You can use Aida64 if you want to really stress test it. Use another tool to see the temps while doing this.
To test the RAM : TestMem5. When you open it, it will instantly load cpu and ram to 100%, and stress test it. There are various presets, ppl online recommend testing for 1 hour and all. Just do the default one
To test the SSD/ HDD : CrystalDiskInfo to check the status and health of the disk. CrystalDiskMark to benchmark it. Download both, CrystalDiskMark doesnt show health and CrystalDiskInfo doesnt do benchmark.
Links :
HWMonitor -
https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html
HWinfo64 -
https://www.hwinfo.com/download/
Furmark -
https://geeks3d.com/furmark/
Unigine Heaven -
https://benchmark.unigine.com/heaven
Cinebench R23 -
https://www.maxon.net/en/downloads/cinebench-r23-downloads
Aida64 -
https://www.aida64.com/
TestMem5 -
https://www.memtest86.com/
CrystalDiskInfo -
https://crystalmark.info/en/software/crystaldiskinfo/
CrystalDiskMark -
https://crystalmark.info/en/software/crystaldiskmark/
What things should I ask the seller?
Has he ever replaced thermal paste, pads, undervolted, overclocked ? Does it have warranty remaining ?
Anything else important to consider?:
Battery backup of the laptop, used ones won't have good battery backup. Depends on how important that is to you.
Non-forum member, how to we go ahead with the deal?
I think it is risky to do a deal with someone from another city, who you have never met and doesn't have feedback etc. like in TE. I think best is to pick the laptop yourself or get one of your friend in that city to do it for you.
Last piece of advise : Buying 2nd hand laptop is a good idea if the laptop is a high end one. Eg:- You are buying a 1.8 lakh laptop for 1 lakh used. It will have somewhat high end parts and wont be outdated that easily. And if you are buying a new one it will be hard to buy something of that price range.
I don't think it is that good of an idea if it is lower end. Eg:- You are buying a 70k laptop for 40k. If you keep checking amazon and flipkart, on sale you will be able to find a similar new laptop for 55k (after credit card, bank offers all that). This will be new, will have much better battery, performance, and warranty. So this is a better deal that a used one for 40k
This is my personal opinion.
